They come in a variety of colors, with or without matching ottomans. The ultimate library furniture. I wonder if they're comfortable.
15 May 2011
08 May 2011
Thoughts on Libraries
In theory, public libraries are awesome.
In actual real-life, they're kind of annoying. Rather, the patrons are annoying.
Countless times, I have gone to the library to read/work/study in relative quiet, only to have the latest outbreak of the cold make everyone around me chronic coughers and snifflers. Or I hook up my computer, get to work, and just get into "the zone" - and a guy comes and sits behind me and starts hollering to his girlfriend on his cell phone. Like, hello! A public library is not a quiet place for you to have an argument with your significant other.
In theory, I support public access to books, the Internet, and multi-media resources. I agree that the public has the right to educate themselves on whatever they need to be educated on.
In actual real-life, I miss the libraries at Oxford where only the elite could get in. I miss going to study with people who are super respectful of other people's study habits. I miss the good feeling I got when I'd walk in and show my library card and be admitted to the world of knowledge and scholarship, accessible to the awesome people who were lucky/cool enough to study in Oxford, of all places - at one of the most famous libraries in the world.
And no one would bang on their keyboards in the study cubicle next to me. And people with the sniffles would work from home. And the book you wanted was almost always on the shelf, because no one was allowed to check it out. Yes, I lived that dream.
This leads me to conclude that I have two options:
1) Start a library, which is half-public, and half-elitist (like, you have to pay to go to any floor but the first one - kind of like Hulu plus, only in library form).
2) Build my own secret library room, accessible through a secret bookshelf door. I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind some modifications to their basement.
Also, why don't libraries have drive-through pick-up windows for the books/materials you place on hold? Someday, I will live that dream.
In actual real-life, they're kind of annoying. Rather, the patrons are annoying.
Countless times, I have gone to the library to read/work/study in relative quiet, only to have the latest outbreak of the cold make everyone around me chronic coughers and snifflers. Or I hook up my computer, get to work, and just get into "the zone" - and a guy comes and sits behind me and starts hollering to his girlfriend on his cell phone. Like, hello! A public library is not a quiet place for you to have an argument with your significant other.
In theory, I support public access to books, the Internet, and multi-media resources. I agree that the public has the right to educate themselves on whatever they need to be educated on.
In actual real-life, I miss the libraries at Oxford where only the elite could get in. I miss going to study with people who are super respectful of other people's study habits. I miss the good feeling I got when I'd walk in and show my library card and be admitted to the world of knowledge and scholarship, accessible to the awesome people who were lucky/cool enough to study in Oxford, of all places - at one of the most famous libraries in the world.
And no one would bang on their keyboards in the study cubicle next to me. And people with the sniffles would work from home. And the book you wanted was almost always on the shelf, because no one was allowed to check it out. Yes, I lived that dream.
This leads me to conclude that I have two options:
1) Start a library, which is half-public, and half-elitist (like, you have to pay to go to any floor but the first one - kind of like Hulu plus, only in library form).
2) Build my own secret library room, accessible through a secret bookshelf door. I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind some modifications to their basement.
Also, why don't libraries have drive-through pick-up windows for the books/materials you place on hold? Someday, I will live that dream.
April Reads
I took Amanda's recommendation and checked these two books out of the library (and finished them):
100 Cupboards - N. D. Wilson
Dandelion Fire - N.D. Wilson
I found them to be quite delightful. Magic-y, but not Harry Potter-y. Young Reader-y, but not dumb. A new twist on a classic conflict.
And I read the first book in a new series by the author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians:
The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan
This book was very cool; I loved how he tied the story into Percy Jackson's, without the book being about Percy. And he didn't negate or blow off some of his original story line with his sequel series, which authors are sometimes prone to do.
Aaaaaand, I'm still reading Moby Dick. In the next 60 pages, we...
a) meet Captain Ahab
b) find out that the name of the whale is Moby Dick
I could have told you that by reading the cover.
Current page: 206
This month, I'm working on some non-fiction and "grown-up" books, instead of young adult and young reader. It's no wonder my brain hurts. ;-)
100 Cupboards - N. D. Wilson
Dandelion Fire - N.D. Wilson
I found them to be quite delightful. Magic-y, but not Harry Potter-y. Young Reader-y, but not dumb. A new twist on a classic conflict.
And I read the first book in a new series by the author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians:
The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan
This book was very cool; I loved how he tied the story into Percy Jackson's, without the book being about Percy. And he didn't negate or blow off some of his original story line with his sequel series, which authors are sometimes prone to do.
Aaaaaand, I'm still reading Moby Dick. In the next 60 pages, we...
a) meet Captain Ahab
b) find out that the name of the whale is Moby Dick
I could have told you that by reading the cover.
Current page: 206
This month, I'm working on some non-fiction and "grown-up" books, instead of young adult and young reader. It's no wonder my brain hurts. ;-)
06 May 2011
Oh Daniel
Daniel was doing a project for Spanish class, for which he needed a small photo album. I had one, which I told him he could borrow. The next morning, I found this note on my bathroom counter. (click to enlarge)
Scrapbook Transfer Directional
It has come to my attention that you have a small photo album. I want it.
Please read previous portion of contract 32 times carefully before continuing.
Thank you for participating in this STD.
Hehehehehehe. My life would be so much less interesting without Daniel. How did I ever live away from my family?
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